Robot Bartenders At Sea

Robot bartenders are making drinks on Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas this month.

(Robot bartenders at sea)

Officially debuting Sunday when Quantum of the Seas sets sail on its maiden voyage, the robot bartenders take drink orders directly from passengers via tablets located around the bar. Passengers then can watch as the machines prepare the concoctions -- with an occasional assist from a human. The robotic arms draw liquor from dozens of bottles hanging from above and are programmed to add just the right amount of mixers, ice and even lemons and mint.

In his 1943 story Q.U.R, sf great Anthony Boucher writes about a usuform robot bartender, a robotic device optimized for the task:

There sat the first original Quinby usuform - no remake of a Robinc model, but a brand-new creation. Quniby said, "Three Planets," and he [the robot] went into action. He had tentacles, and the motions were exactly like Guzub's except that he himself was the shaker. He poured the liquids into his maw, joggled about, and then poured them out of a hollow hoselike tentacle."